What
does it mean in Spiritual sense? Many so called embodied (ਦੇਹਧਾਰੀ) Gurus, Sants, Baabaas, Pujaarees (priests), Giaanees, Swamis, Saadh, and so on, enjoy having
their bodily feet touched, massaged and washed by their equally or more ignorant
followers or admirers. In the selfish desire of attaining material wealth or heavenly
pleasures, many drink in the dust of their feet, dissolved in the wash water.
Also, many apply the dust of their feet to their own forehead. Why do mortals
enjoy such falsehood? Because it inflates their false ego, which, in turn, inflames
their evil passions and mental perversions. Being attached to the love of duality
(Doojaa Bhaav, Maya), the majority of us value this sort of Spiritual corruption
and live by it!

As indicated in the Gurbani, taking the "Charan Kamal"
as physiological feet is ignorance; thus a naked show of the Saakat's (mammon
worshipper) perverted mind. The Gurbani's "Lotus Feet" of Guru-Lord are not physiological
feet. They are Spiritual, thus Sublime and Transcendental; and realized only upon
being thoroughly awakened to our True Nature as Pure Consciousness (Mool, Aatmaan,
Guru, Satguru, Light, Naam, Shabad, etc.). The Lotus
Feet, therefore, are none other than the unbroken Simran (Reflection) on
the Divine Name (Giaan of the Gurbani; Shabad-Vichaar...). In other words, the Lotus Feet mentioned
in the Gurbani are none other than the Naam-consciousness, Shabad-Surti,
God-consciousness or simply Shabad-Giaan (Spiritual Wisdom or Aatam-Giaan).
The "washing" of the Lotus Feet is nothing but to live in this unbroken
communion of the Naam-consciousness (Aatam Giaan or Spiritual Wisdom of the Gurbani...) within, and "drinking the wash
water" is constantly drinking in this Amrit (Ambrosial Nectar) of
the Naam-Surti.

In the Eastern scriptures,
the Inner Awareness, the Inner Heart (Spiritual Heart...), the Inner Mind, the Higher Consciousness, Mool, etc.,
is depicted as the Lotus Flower (Kamal). The Feet of God (Guru or
Satgur ) are also portrayed as such. To put it otherwise, the terminology
such as Heart-Lotus or Lotus Feet is none other than the One Divine Light that
pervades within everyone. We are That Light (Joti-Svaroopa); which is the
Substratum of all beings. In order to feel This subtlety within, we are asked
by the Gurbani to visualize the lotus flower centered right within the center
of the Heart, the place of the All-pervasive-consciousness as the Inner-Dweller.
Thus, the Heart-Lotus or Lotus Feet is the seat of the Divine Essence or
the Divine Essence Itself. Simply Put: it is the Spiritual-Center as opposed to
the ego-center.

As
time and again revealed by the Gurbani, deep within the Heart dwells the Lotus
Feet; and deep within the Lotus of the Heart dwells the Mool (Guru, Satgur, Light, Naam, Shabad, etc.). In other words,
the Lotus Feet or Heart-Lotus is the seat of the Pure Consciousness. This is the
Center of all centers, the Support (Adhaar) of life. Just as the waves
rise from the ocean, subsist in the ocean and then immerse back into the ocean;
similarly, the mind rises from this Substratum, on which it exists
and whereit finally dissolves.

Hence
God's Lotus Feet are ever situated within everybody's Heart-Lotus, the Spiritual
Center. However, due to our veil of ignorance (expanded false ego), we are unable
to turn our mind within and realize this Truth (ਸਚ). But, those who have roasted the
seed of ignorance in the fire of Shabad-Giaan, always see them in their
Inner Consciousness — in their waking state, in their dream state, and in their
deep sleep state. They find themselves simultaneously connected to them. Thus,
our Mool within (Guru, Satgur, Naam, Shabad, etc.) is not apart from
the seeker, and the seeker is not apart from Him. Therefore, physical proximity
is of no consequences; unbroken (Akhand) mental communion through the Naam
(Aatam Giaan...) alone matters. In other words, the mind must be connected to the Pure Consciousness
within — one must hold on only to the Mool. Then the seeker is guided from within -
the Source of all Wisdom and the Knowledge.

ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਕਮਲੁ ਵਿਗਸਿਆ ਸਭੁ ਆਤਮ ਬ੍ਰਹਮੁ ਪਛਾਨੁ ॥: Gurmukhi kamalu vigasiaa sabhu aatam brahamu pashhaanu: The one who has become the Gurmukh, his Heart-Lotus blossoms forth, and Rcognizes the Brahm in all Jeev (sggs 1313).

After reading the foregoing verses, one may ask
as to how a Lotus or Feet can grow deep within one's Heart or mind! Or, how the
Feet of Guru-God can exist in one's mind or Heart? Here, as stated earlier, neither
the Heart is physical, nor the Lotus and nor the Feet are physical. They are Spiritual; without
any feature or form. Thus, the Lotus Feet mentioned in the Gurbani represent
the Subtle or Spiritual-Center and not the physical or ego-center.

The confusion
or mistake arises from our limited language and perverted understanding. The Absolute
Truth the Gurbani tries to explain has to use our limited human language
is. However, the Absolute
Truth is Unlimited and Infinite. When a truth that has not been personally experienced
is expounded by a true Gurmukh or the Gurbani, one cannot grasp it directly.
However, with the help of illustrations, analogies, similes, allegories, metaphors
and figurative or mystic representations such as "Lotus Feet" or "Heart-Lotus",
it becomes relatively easier to grasp. Consequently, once the symbolism of illustrations
such as "Lotus Feet" or "Heart-Lotus" is grasped, then one
comes to understand its real significance.

We can look at it from an another
perspective. The worldly truth is based on relativity, however, the Absolute Truth
is Eternal and beyond relativism. Majority of us can only appreciate
relative knowledge. Why? Because, due to our material-consciousness (Maya), we have confounded
our Mool with the physical body-frame. As a result, we think we are the physical senses,
mind, intellect, heart, and so on; which gives rise to relativity (Doojaa Bhaav).
Accordingly, as most of us can only grasp the relative knowledge, some place as
"Lotus Feet" or "Heart-Lotus" is mentioned by the Gurbani
as the place of All-pervading Consciousness. Hence, this type of instruction using
physical illustrations, examples or narratives are meant for most of us who can
only appreciate the relative knowledge. However, being Infinite as well as Transcendental
and Immanent everywhere, there is no particular place for the Lord. Therefore, in reality
the Lotus-Feet is not a physical place.

Names and forms exists in the Infinite
Consciousness, not other way around. Since the names and forms are nothing but
relative knowledge, they hide the Reality. For example, if we just see an ornament
the gold becomes hidden; if we just see the beads the string becomes hidden; if
wee only see the waves the ocean becomes hidden; if we just see a pot the
clay becomes hidden; and if we just see rays the
sun becomes hidden! In reality, the substratum of the ornament is nothing but
gold, and that of the pot is clay, and so on. In other words, the ornament can
never leave the gold, or the pot can never leave the clay. Similarly, we are the
Joti-Svaroopa, not the gross body. To realize this Truth, the relativity
or the names and forms (duality or Doojaa Bhaav) must be transcended.

Unfortunately,
the swindlers portraying as holy men, Giaanee, etc., abuse this relative knowledge
and make ignorant people worship their physical feet. Further, they use our relative
knowledge for gaining name, fame, money, material comforts, and making new followers
to build their empires. In the process, they fool the like minded greedy, selfish
or spiritually dull people. Being shameless, they feel no remorse for their blind
actions.

How
can we realize the true Lotus Feet within? In order to experience the Lotus Feet,
the the Gurbani urges us to "look within". What does it mean to "look within"?
Since the Lotus Feet are Infinite Consciousness or Consciousness itself, to "look
within" simply means to focus the attention on this Infinite Consciousness; which
is the Cause of causes, and the Source of the true Bliss or Amrit (Immortality).
In order to realize these "Lotus Feet", one needs to link his individual consciousness
to the Cosmic Awareness (Mool-Source, Origin...) through the unbroken
practice of the Shabad -Vichaar. Keeping
the company of the Sat (Truth) within and without, one comes to understand
the Shabad (Naam -Aatam, Giaan...), and then become intuitively absorbed
in the Truth. Upon awakening of the Lotus-Feet or the Satgur within, one's intellect
is purified and he becomes a Gurmukh (Spiritual Being...). As a result, obstacles
such as egoism, possessiveness, evil-mindedness, obstacles, wickedness, selfishness,
repeated pain and suffering depart.

In essence, the Lotus Feet, Naam, Shabad, Divine Knowledge (Aatam-Giaan, Brahm-Giaan...) are synonymous. Also, Realization of "Lotus Feet" is essentially the
same as Awakening or Realization of the Satgur within.
As such, the Gurbani as well as all other ancient scriptures of India enjoin taking
Divine Name (Aatam Giaan...) all the time. But, how should we take Divine Name? Shabad-Vichaar!

In the Light of the Gurbani, after knowing what the true
Charan-Kamal or Lotus Feet are, now let's try to find out as to why there
is so much emphasis in the Gurbani on realizing them. The reason for such emphasis
is that Clouds of Bhagti formed in the Spiritual Sky of God's Charan-Kamal
brings outpouring of True Bliss (Anand or Amrit-Dhaaraa) and inundates
the lake of the mind. Thus, the Bhagti is nothing but loosening of one's
mind (self-will...) in the Hukam or Lotus Feet or Pure Consciousness within, through proper Understanding of the Gurbani. Immortality (Amrit)
and everlasting Bliss are the fruits of such Bhagti directed towards the Real
Source - Mool.